Abhatoo - Centre Nationale de Documentation

The International Conference on "Regional Aquifer Systems in Arid Zones – Managing non-renewable resources" (Tripoli, 21-25 November 1999) marked a milestone in the review, discussion and analysis of the emerging concept of planned groundwater mining and made important progress in international exchange and co-operation towards an equitable and sustainable utilization of shared groundwater resources.
More than 600 hundred participants from over 20 countries and regional and international organizations and associations attended the Conference. Fourty-eight papers were presented to elucidate and debate on the following themes :
• Geological characteristics of regional aquifer systems in arid areas
• Assessments methodologies and constraints for non-renewable water resources
• Principles of groundwater abstraction from fossil aquifers
• Environmental impacts of groundwater exploitation (desertification)
• Monitoring groundwater abstraction and environmental impacts
• National and regional policies concerning sustainable use of water
One of the direct achievements of the Conference is the Tripoli Statement which encourages countries to enter into negotiations with a view to reaching agreements on the development, management and protection of shared groundwater resources.